Title deeds handed over to residents

Cape Town-140310-MEC for Human Settlements, Bonginkosi Madikizela was in Delft to hand over title deeds to residents. Happy recipients are (L-R) David Goliath, Ragmat Vollenhoven and Magdalena Fortuin. Picture Jeffrey Abrahams. Reporter Siya.

Siyavuya Mzantsi

PENSIONER Margeret Peterson who suffers from the effects of a stroke longed for ownership of the house she and her mother have lived in for more than two decades.

Peterson, 63, and her husband moved into their house 24 years ago, but did not own it until yesterday when she was among more than 100 Delft residents who received title deeds to their RDP houses.

The title deeds were handed over to beneficiaries by Human Settlement MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela.

Peterson said she had been concerned about ownership of her house after she and her husband divorced.

“After me and my husband broke our marriage, I realised how important shelter was for my mother who is now 83. I went to court so that I remain in this house. But it was difficult because I did not have direct ownership of it,” she said.

“When we moved in, it was a three-room house and was very small, but we appreciated it because we had nowhere else to go. I am very happy to say I finally own that house. My son now has a home. The title deed will change our lives because now we have ownership of our home,” Peterson said.

Another beneficiary Eulanda Layters 63 said: “I am thankful because it means I have something of value. You can buy everything, but you can’t buy a tittle deed. This means a lot to me because my husband passed away while we did not have ownership of the house and I have been living in the house for 17 years now.”

Madikizela said yesterday’s was the second title deed handover in the area this year. His department had a programme to fast-track home ownership for people who have been waiting years to own their houses.